Marshmallow S'More Murder

Merry Wrath Mysteries #3

by Leslie Langtry

From USA Today Bestselling Author Leslie Langtry comes the latest Merry Wrath Mystery that will leave you dying of laughter...


What could be better for former CIA agent turned Girl Scout leader Merry Wrath than taking twelve little girls to Washington DC for a bit of summer fun? Almost anything. Unfortunately, between her girls terrorizing the Secret Service and "accidentally" destroying the hotel pool, Merry has her hands full with this troop. And when her former handler, Riley, is kidnapped Merry has to turn to an old friend from her spy days and her parents, Senator and Mrs. Czrgy, to help her wrangle the troop and rescue the man she once briefly called her boyfriend.


Armed only with a perpetually AWOL parent, stalked by a runaway King Vulture, and plagued by a mysterious death from her past, Merry's mayhem weaves a wacky trail from moonshiners in the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the bowels of the Japanese Embassy, to the ductwork of the International Spy Museum. With things heating up with current boyfriend, Detective Rex Ferguson, can Merry decipher clues from her past to find ex¬-boyfriend Riley and finally solve the murder of Yakuza boss, Midori Ito, before the target on her back is filled with lead?


Merry Wrath Mysteries:
Merit Badge Murder - book #1
Mint Cookie Murder - book #2
Scout Camp Mystery - short story in the "Killer Beach Reads" collection
Marshmallow S'More Murder – book #3


What critics are saying about Leslie Langtry's books:


"Darkly funny and wildly over the top, this mystery answers the burning question, 'Do assassin skills and Girl Scout merit badges mix…"
~ RT BOOKreviews


"Mixing a deadly sense of humor and plenty of sexy sizzle, Leslie Langtry creates a brilliantly original, laughter-rich mix of contemporary romance and suspense."
~ Chicago Tribune


"Langtry gets the fun started from page one with a myriad of clever details."
~ Publisher's Weekly

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Audiobook, Espionage, Contemporary, Murder Mystery

Unknown Binding

First published March 27, 2016

About the author

Leslie Langtry is a USA Today Bestselling Author of the Merry Wrath Mysteries and the Bombay Family of Assassins Greatest Hits series. She lives in the Midwest with her family and is an active Girl Scout volunteer. Her dream is to someday invent calorie free cake.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I jumped into this book immediately following book 2, and while I really enjoyed the change of scenery and getting to spend time with some new characters, I wish someone had paid a bit more attention to continuity. The last book ended with 2 kittens, this one had 3. There was also some confusion about Merry's name versus her mom's. There were several small instances where I was thrown out of the story going, "Wait, a minute that's not how I remember it..." Overall, in spite of several small inconsistencies, I still really enjoyed this read and the world that the author has created.

[FangirlNation · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry Wrath‘s girl scout troop has won a trip to Washington, D.C. for having sold the most cookies ever in the history of the Girl Scouts in Marshmallow S’more Murder, the third Merry Wrath book by Leslie Langtry. With Merry’s CIA background and her Senator father's influence, these scouts get a trip unlike any before them. While visiting the First Lady, Merry gets a quick phone call from her former partner and handler, Riley, begging for help before hanging up. And this leads Merry to some dramatic events in D.C., which includes taking the dozen girl scouts to Langley, the headquarters of the CIA, where they meet up with Merry’s good friend Maria, who helps out Merry and her scouts.

Read the rest of this review, more reviews, and other wonderful, geeky articles on FangirlNation

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marshmallow S'More Murder is a story full of action, espionage and girl scouts?! Merry Wrath and her girl scout troop win a trip to Washington D.C. for selling the most cookies. Unfortunately, ex CIA agent Merry gets a phone call from Riley, her former handler, who has been kidnapped by the very dangerous Japanese mob. Her problem becomes how to save Riley while keeping the girls out of harms way.
This story combines mystery, action and humor to make it sometimes funny and sometimes exciting. It is the third story in A Merry Wrath Mystery series but could easily be read as a stand alone.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy read in this series. Does needs a little bit of editing. Hope to read next one in the near future.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I was really impressed by this quirky, cozy, Mary Wrath mystery series…Giggled quite a bit at her humor and comedic observations…Plus most of the setting is in Iowa…But, it gets a trite and I found myself speed reading through much of it…The “Marshmallow S’More Murder,” has Merry, the scouts and her support friends confronting the head of a Japanese Yakuza family as the gangsters seek revenge…Just OK!

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Merry and her Girl Scout Troop are in D.C. when she gets a call for help from Riley.

What I enjoyed:
* The girls are a blast. I love how they never panic and are always up for adventure.
* Mr. Fancy Pants the escaped King Vulture who seemed to be following Merry.
* The sheer absurdity of the plot is just a lot of fun.

What could have been better:
* Evelyn was a horrible helper although the mystery of who she actually was is interesting
* The mystery I wasn't surprised at all that Riley killed Ito, although the reason for it was good (revenge for his sister)

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snark - full of funds

Merry's snarky internal dialogue keeps me laughing out loud! Great plot and pacing - the action is non stop . And the troop girls are a stitch !

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one. Interesting questions to go, some from other books answered. I do enjoy this series.

[Gary Sundell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry and her girl scouts are off to Washington, DC. Her former CIA handler calls her for help while Merry and the girls are meeting the First Lady. Mix in the Yakuza, Moonshiners, and an escaped King Vulture and you have the third book in one of my favorite series. Can't wait for the next one.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I like the fact that the girl scout troop played more of a role in the story, I love the things the girls get up to and think they provide the biggest laughs. This is a fun humours mystery that will have you chuckling along with it in some parts and rolling your eyes in others but I loved it. The characters are a big reason why I like this series but do wish Merry wasn't quite so insecure or undecided who she was in love with. It still reminds me of Jana DeLeon miss fortune series but instead of the elderly sidekicks causing chaos its little girls and birds. Loved the zoo visit. The mystery worked well with all the sight seeing and I am not sure if would have worked so well if it had been a murder investigation instead of a missing person case. Although it did mean you knew who was responsible from the get go. There is a lot of jumping around as some of the investigation was solved during dreams of previous cases. To be honest I listened to it to see what the characters got up to, especially the girls. Off to start the next adventure.
For selling the most cookies Merry's scout group is rewarded with a visit to Washington DC. The problem is her best friend and fellow leader Kelly is due to give birth any day and is unable to travel with them. Merry thought the hardest part would be controlling 12 young girls into behaving and stopping the parent helper from ditching them to go shopping. That is until her ex handler Riley, phones saying he needs help. Merry can't put the girls in danger but she can't leave her friend out in the cold to face what ever danger he has got himself into. Can she find him in time? The clues lead her to contacting her father for not only help with babysitting the girls but also his connections with the Japanese embassy. Can she explain her disappearances and still give the girls a trip they will remember?
I like the narrator. She helps being the story to life.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series! I was getting desperate for something cute, funny and fun to read...and these books are perfect!

Merry Wrath -- retired CIA operative, living in Iowa, leading a Girl Scout Troop. What could possibly go wrong?

This time, Merry is taking her troop on a trip to Washington, D.C. It's a reward for her troop selling the most GS cookies...ever. Traveling with Merry is never dull....suddenly they are dealing with a kidnapping, the Yakuza, an escaped vulture, and a less than stellar parent chaperone.

I love how the Scouts take everything in stride when weird things happen. They even gave the vulture a cute nick name!

There were a couple of editing issues in this book. In the last book, Merry had two new kittens on her hands. In this book...there are suddenly three? And in one spot a character's name was mixed up with another character. This may have been fixed in newer editions of the book. And the mistakes weren't enough to pull me out of the story. I read this series for pure fun...not for realism or editing perfection.

The front cover was incredibly cute as usual. The funny antics of Merry, her friends and her Scouts kept me smiling the entire time.

My favorite character? The vulture, of course!

These books are quick reads. There's a nice mix of silly, zany antics and humor with a bit of spy intrigue.

I can't wait to find out the sort of trouble Merry gets into next!

[Shirley Hartman-Rozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For selling more Girl Scout cookies than any other scout troop in the USA, Merry’s girls are rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC. They tour museums and a zoo wherein they run across Mr. Fancy Pants, a king vulture that takes a liking to Merry and the girls and escapes it’s enclosure to track them down—and saves their lives when they need saving. Merry receives a disturbing phone call from Riley, her ex-handler in the CIA, asking for help without giving her any details of his need. This leads Merry through many trials and tribulations until she finds him—beat up and barely alive—in the basement of the Japanese embassy. The daughter of the head of the Japanese equivalent to the CIA believes that Merry and Riley killed her mother and she is determined to execute them in revenge. How it all climaxes back in their little town in Iowa is astonishing and cleverly ended by the person responsible for the murder. An interesting read and at times quite funny, especially when Merry barely escapes a marriage with “Knob”.

[Diane Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't start this book before bed. You won't be able to put it down. Hilariously funny, action-packed, high tension, and crazy antics. I love, love, love this series! I suppose you could read this book as a standalone. More fun to read the series in order. Poor Merry. After being outed as a CIA agent, she slunk back home with a new name and new appearance where her BFF talks her into co-leading a Girl Scout Troop of 8-year-olds. When they win a trip to Washington DC (for selling the most cookies ever, thanks to Merry's CIA contacts, they meet the First Lady, a deranged king vulture, and a crazed yakuza agent who think Merry killed her mother. Along with sightseeing excursions and corralling 12 rambunctious (and way too smart) girls, Merry must rescue her former handler (and ex-lover). My fav character was the vulture. OMG, he was too funny. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Short, Sweet and Cozy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marshmallow S’More Murder is the 3rd exciting book in the Merry Wrath Mysteries. I couldn’t put it down! There is a lot of action, humor, friendship, and some boyfriend situations. Merry and her Girl Scout Troop won a trip to Washington DC. Merry’s best friend Kelly is due to have a baby so she can’t go. Merry’s boyfriend Detective Rex is watching her cats. Merry is former CIA but retired. Merry asks her CIA friend Maria to help out. Merry’s handler at the CIA Riley is missing and calls to ask for help. Merry and Maria spend 2/3 of the book looking for Riley, protecting the girls, and avoiding Mr Fancy Pants. What a story! I bought both the ebook and audiobook. The audiobook is well done considering how many voices were required. I preferred the audiobook. Very enjoyable! #MarshmallowS’MoreMurder. #MerryWrathMysteries
#GemmaHallidayPublishing

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light-hearted romp of a mystery, with snarky 8 year old girl scouts, a tourist trip to DC (curses -- I was hoping for an Iowa book!) and lots of reminiscing about her old career as a CIA spy. Nothing really holds up to a long look, but there are plenty of reasons not to give anything that dangerous look, including a stalking by an escaped buzzard from the National Zoo, a trip to the Star Trek hotel, and (of course) two hot guys leaping about for her attention. Oh yeah, and a murder plot by yakuza who have mysteriously targeted her during this trip. Never mind, let's see what Fancy Pants the buzzard is up to!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a trip to Washington DC Merry and her troupe deal with a lot of things including a vulture who escapes from the zoo, an absentee parent helper, and members of the Japanese crime syndicate trying to nail Merry for the crime of killing their leader. CIA agent Marie helps keep the kids happy while trying to solve the mystery at hand. This was a great installment in the hilarious antics of a retired CIA agent turned scout leader. Settle down with a snack and get ready to laugh your butt off. I know I did. I give this read 5 packs of marshmallow smores.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Marshmallow S'more Murder is the third book in the Merry Wrath series, it is the first I have read. Merry has taken her girl scouts troop to Washing DC, but nothing goes smoothly there. Spies, attack birds and chaos follows Merry and the troop. I did find it odd that past memories were revealed during dreams and at first, I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be premonitions or memories. But other than that oddity, I thought the book was highly enjoyable and a worthy read.

I won this book (a while ago) in a Goodreads' giveaway, but the opinion is all my own

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only 3 stars because I was quite enjoying the series until this one. Still a fun story but did the author take a break for a while and forget to refresh before writing again? I was bothered by all the inconsistencies. This book changed a few things from the previous two that were set and not a easy change with a back story. I felt unsatisfied with the ending as well - felt like we retconned a character to make the ending work. I'm unsure I will go on now but am tempted since it is still entertaining when working in the yard.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful listening 🔰

Due to eye issues and damage Alexa reads to me and my wife.
Another will written romantic thriller murder mystery in the Mary Wrath Series book three with lots of interesting characters. The story line is set in Washington D.C.where Mary and her girl 👧scouts troop are on a field trip. The daughter of the Japanese mafia attempts to kill Mary and her friend and the fun begins. I would recommend this series to readers of mysteries looking for light entertaining reading. Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚 2021 🐈😊

[Julie Hubbard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could go wrong when Merry takes her troop to DC. Oh my, you have to read to see. Merry ends up on the trip with a mostly absent co-chaperone. She has to visit her prior employer and her troop has an unforgettable tour of the facility and the city. The adventures in this book are unforgettable. Who knew the troop of girls could be a match for the CIA! Great read that will keep you reading long after you said you would stop!

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Langtry does it again! I am a big fan of this author, everything I have read has been great, this is no exception. This is the third installment of the Merry Wrath Mystery Series and may be the best one yet. Merry is an ex-CIA agent turned Girl Scout Leader. In this adventure she takes the troop to Washington, D.C. , they won the trip for selling the most cookies. What could go wrong? Merry again finds herself involved in a crazy mystery that does not allow her to completely get away from the CIA.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars This one was lots of fun with a much greater presence of the delightfully weapons obsessed animal crazy little girl scouts as Merry accompanies on them on trip to DC. And personally I enjoyed the absence of grumpy bitchy bff Kelly (left at home to have her baby). Maria - Merry's CIA buddy- was a much more enjoyable sidekick.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, funny with a subtle dark edge. Inconsistencies between books and in current storyline exist. They pull my head out of the story as my brain is constantly going "wait that's not right" or "it was called this" or "but you just said..."

But if you can get past those instances, this book will make you laugh and keep you entertained.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Struggled reading this one

For some reason I really struggled with this story, even say it down for a few days. Riley might be one reason since I really like Rex or it !ight be the bird. I am not sure just glad I finished it.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crap on a cracker the things that go on during a girl scout trip makes me glad I wasn't ever one! 😉 The last part of the book with Riley makes me think he's in love with Merry but maybe that's wishful thinking on my part😞.

[Joyce Winiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read This Author

Enjoyed this book. Merry is a wonderful character, very real! Plus, the story is fun and fast moving. Lots of action involving pets, kids, bffs and a bit of love!

[Mary Barna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously funny

I love Mr. Fancy Pants! You'll love this book. Merry and the Scouts hit Washington, DC and our National Capitol will never be the same. There are some very, very serious moments which balance out the humor. All in all a well rounded addition to the series.

[C. Earle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny, enjoyable and exciting series. Lots of over-the-top situations for Merry while she keeps her troop out of harm's way.

Why does the cover show a raccoon? It has absolutely nothing to do with the story.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to escape into fun!

Escape into fun with Merry Wrath and her girl scout troop as they go to Washington D.C for selling the most cookies. Soon Merry finds herself trying to save the day while keeping friends safe.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visiting d.c. with the troop

This book was non-stop laughter and sneaking around a bunch of girls from the girl scouts in d.c. due to winning the most selled cookies. But as soon as she gets there, chaos starts up, and did I mention she is on her own? lol.